This was also a twin-boom aircraft that had a broadly similar layout to the OV-10. Convair protested the decision and built a small-wing prototype of the Model 48 Charger anyway, which first flew on 29 November 1964. A contract for seven prototype aircraft was issued in October 1964. Marine Corps dropped out of the Mohawk program in 1958), Goodyear GA 39, Beechcraft PD-183, Douglas D-855, Convair Model 48 Charger, Helio 1320, Lockheed CL-760, a Martin design, and the North American Aviation/ Rockwell NA-300. Various armaments had to be carried, including four 7.62 mm (0.300 in) machine guns with 2,000 rounds, and external weapons including a gun pod with 20 mm (0.79 in) M197 electric cannon, and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.Įleven proposals were submitted, including the Grumman Model 134R tandem-seat version of the already-fielded U.S. It also had to be able to operate from an aircraft carrier, fly at least 350 miles per hour (560 km/h), take off in 800 feet (240 m), and convert to an amphibious version. The specification called for a twin-engined, two-man aircraft that could carry at least 2,400 pounds (1,100 kg) of cargo or six paratroopers or stretchers, and be stressed for +8 and −3 g (basic aerobatic ability). Existing military aircraft in the observation role, such as the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog and Cessna O-2 Skymaster, were perceived as obsolescent, with too slow a speed and too small a load capacity for this flexible role. The LARA requirement was based on a perceived need for a new type of "jungle fighting" versatile light attack and observation aircraft. Navy, Air Force, and Army, and was issued in late 1963. Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft Ī "tri-service" specification for the light armed reconnaissance aircraft (LARA) was approved by the U.S.
It could thus be transported by amphibious shipping and either heli-lifted or driven ashore by a 6×6 truck. it is quite feasible to design the various components so that it can be disassembled easily and stored in a box that would fit in a 6×6 truck bed together with the equipment needed for re-assembly in the field. As a result the wingspan was to be limited to twenty feet and a heavy trailing arm type landing gear with a tread of 6.5 ft was provided for operation from roads. In addition, the airplane was designed to use roads so that operation would even be possible in jungle areas where clearings are few and far between. The military definition of STOL (500 ft to a 50 ft obstacle) allows takeoff and landing in most of the areas in which limited war might be fought. Beckett, who had retired from the Marine Corps, went to work at North American Aviation to sell the aircraft. The effort produced enthusiastic supporters and an informal pamphlet describing the concept. The airframe was to be designed to avoid the back blast.īeckett and Rice developed a basic platform meeting these requirements, then attempted to build a fiberglass prototype in a garage. The inventors favored strafing weapons such as self-loading recoilless rifles, which could deliver aimed explosive shells with less recoil than cannons, and a lower per-round weight than rockets. Weapons were to be mounted on the centerline to get efficient unranged aiming. Efficient turboprop engines would give better performance than piston engines. Speed was to be from very slow to medium subsonic, with much longer loiter times than a pure jet. The concept aircraft was to operate from expedient forward air bases using roads as runways. Air Force was not interested in close air support. Army was still experimenting with armed helicopters, and the U.S. The original concept was for a rugged, simple, close air support aircraft integrated with forward ground operations. Marine Corps, who met at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, and who also happened to live near each other. The aircraft was initially conceived in the early 1960s through an informal collaboration between W.H. It can carry up to 3,200 lb (1,450 kg) of external munitions and internal loads such as paratroopers or stretchers, and can loiter for three or more hours. It was developed in the 1960s as a special aircraft for counter-insurgency (COIN) combat, and one of its primary missions was as a forward air control (FAC) aircraft. The North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is an American twin- turboprop light attack and observation aircraft.
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